2007-02-04 19:30:05 · 5 answers · asked by vampirepolice999 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
When pups are born, they are born in an amniotic sac. A mother will have to break the pups out of the sac and she does so with her teeth. She will eat the sac and clean the pup off. A first time mother with her first pup born is inexperienced and may eat the sac and the pup.
My concern is that you should not be able to see your hamster giving birth. She should have built a nest large enough to hide in completely. You either don't have enough nesting material in there for her (strips of unscented tissues or toilet paper are excellent) or you're nosing around somewhere you shouldn't be! The rule with hamsters and their pups is to LEAVE THEM ALONE. If you're poking around and moving the bedding to watch what's going on, then she is very likely biting the pups. Your female is confused and does not want to be disturbed. She can't even move elsewhere because she's in labor! Please, please, please give her some quiet time. The rule of thumb is not to touch the babies (or even poke around to look at them) until they're eyes are open and they're walking around the cage. If you can't give the female the space she needs then you may have to deal with her killing all of her pups. Hamster mothers don't deal very well with stress or disturbances.
You may think that your hamster loves you, is the sweetest hamster in the world, and would love to share her pups with you. You just need to understand that instinct is far stronger than any prior experiences with you. Wait four weeks until you separate the pups and your friend will be back, same as ever.
-Janice
http://www.holmdenhillhaven.com
2007-02-05 00:01:24 · answer #1 · answered by radiocricket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok seen the first question flote by about not cleaning the cage for a week. So you have a mother hamster that is biting her babies? How badly and how often? How old are the babies? Sometimes first time mothers in the animal as well as human world do not take to mothering very good the first time around. Also if there is any deformities sometimes the animal will kill the baby rather than let it suffer. Then there is the more simple answer. Mother animals often carrie their young by the skuff of the neck and hide them in a place they feel is safe.
2007-02-05 03:40:26 · answer #2 · answered by dont want stalkers 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with most others. Hamster mothers biting or eating their children is not uncommon. They will do this if they do not feel comfortable or safe in their home, if they are not having their dietary needs met, or if their babies have a deformity. Deformities are not always visible to us. Are you sticking your hands in the cage too much? Are you trying to handle the babies? Is there a lot of loud music or bright light in the room? When you clean the cage, DO NOT disturb the nest or handle the babies. Make ure the mother has plenty of soft bedding, maybe even some tissues thrown in or some cotton balls so she can make her nest warmer. Also, hamster mothers which are nursing babies ned extra butrition. Try feeding her a small glob of peanut butter, or a grape or carrot. Most of all, make sure the room is kept quiet and fairly dim and that you do not interfere very much.
2007-02-05 12:53:25 · answer #3 · answered by oneblackhorse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a kid I remember that my hamster would usually eat her babies.
She gave birth 3 times and ate all of them except for 2.
As for biting I'm not sure.... she didn't just hurt them, she ate them.
2007-02-05 03:41:10 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hamsters will kill and eat there babies if they are stressed or the nest is disturbed. so just leave them all alown the mum knows what to do.
2007-02-05 07:59:34 · answer #5 · answered by Joanne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋